Aaron M. Hartel earned a B.S. in Chemistry from the Pennsylvania State University and a Ph. D. in Organic Chemistry at Duke University. After a two-year appointment as an instructor at the University of Georgia, he joined the Department of Chemistry at Winthrop University as an assistant professor in 2004. In 2009, Dr. Hartel was promoted to Associate Professor and in 2010 was awarded tenure. In 2013, Dr. Hartel was honored with the James Pinckney and Lee Wicker Kinard Award for excellence in teaching. In 2015, he was promoted to the rank of professor.

Dr. Hartel teaches courses in organic chemistry including CHEM 301 (Organic Chemistry I), CHEM 302 (Organic Chemistry II), CHEM 304 (Organic Chemistry Laboratory), CHEM 310 (Essentials of Organic Chemistry), CHEM 570 (Chemical Synthesis Laboratory) and CHEM 571 (Advanced Topics in Organic Chemistry). His scientific research focuses on developing new synthetic organic methods involving silicon. Dr. Hartel is also active in pedagogical research, particularly the development of new instructional laboratory exercises that link chemistry to the everyday world.

Dr. Hartel is also actively engaged in the development of educational software designed to enhance the learning of organic chemistry. Since 2010, his "Learn Organic Chemistry" apps have been used by students around the world.